. >> reporter: also, dampening the forecast is superstorm sandy. by one estimate, nearly 5 million households in the path will have to curb spending this year: is to counter, they're going in and offering discounts. look last year, some stores will open on thanksgiving at midnight with wal-mart, target, sears, and toys "r" us opening earlier. in a fierce competition to get the very first shoppers. >> retailers know after many black fridays that typically the place where the person shops first is the place where they spend the most money. >> reporter: the strategy is working. last year, a quarter of all black friday shoppers were in the stores by midnight. and the weekend was a record breaker. drew levinson, cbs news, new york. >>> things are looking up for california's state budget. >> well, there are signs pointing to a possible surplus even and what lawmakers need to do to keep it that way. our conversation with assemblyman jerry hill next. >> and planning on joining the black friday madness? when you should really hit the stores to score the bes